Internal Alexander Memo Reveals Wide GOP Primary Lead

An internal poll conducted for Sen. Lamar Alexander’s campaign shows the Tennessee Republican with a 45-point lead over his highest-tracking primary opponent, according to a memo obtained by CQ Roll Call.

The poll, conducted by North Star Opinion Research, surveyed 600 likely GOP primary voters and found that Alexander enjoys a 67-percent-to-26-percent favorable-to-unfavorable rating.

Meanwhile, tea-party-backed state Rep. Joe Carr is struggling to gain name recognition in the state. Seventy percent of likely Republican voters said they have never heard of Carr, up only 3 points from an August poll.

Alexander’s early lead is indicative of both the struggle by his conservative challengers to gain steam and Alexander’s own brand.

Alexander, who is seeking a third term, has been a senator for more than a decade, after serving as Tennessee’s governor for eight years and later as U.S. secretary of Education. Additionally, Alexander had nearly $3.2 million in cash on hand at the end of the year, as opposed to Carr’s $405,000.

“This campaign looks essentially the same today as it did last August,” pollster Whit Ayres said in the memo. “Given Senator Alexander’s universal name recognition, it will be very difficult for his opponents to move these numbers.”

Totally agree. I too had read where Lamar Alexander was behind in the polls, and I think I read it as an article in a Tennessee newspaper. The Commercial Appeal of Memphis has covered his peccadillos often enough for the entire state to know him. I question this poll. If he pushes amnesty again, with so many people in Tennessee out of work, or Illegal Aliens become violent., I don’t think he will win. His name recognition is mostly negative.

Amberteka

How the MSM covers the elections. politics. Kentucky where the TP candidate, Bevin is beating Rep. McConnell and the Democrat Grimes. By 6 points and 8 points respectively.
The Hill did a story on Grimes beating McConnell in the polls and did not even mention Bevin. Who leads them both!
You get half of the story, protecting the republican or the Democrat and always not reporting on the Grassroots candidate unless it is bad.